Today, with an enrollment of over 10,000 students, North Carolina A&T is the largest historically black university in the nation.[9] According to the U.S. News & World Report, the university was ranked 8th nationally, and 1st among public historically black institutions.[10] The university is also well recognized for its degree program in engineering. The university's College of Engineering has consistently ranked first in the nation for the number of degrees awarded to African-Americans at the undergraduate level, and is a leading producer of African-American engineers with master's and doctorate degrees.[11] The university is also a leading producer of African-American psychology undergraduates; minority certified public accountants, landscape architects, veterinarians, and agricultural graduates.[12][13]

The school's students, alumni, and sports teams are known as "Aggies." The university's varsity athletic teams, are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, in all sports with the exception of women's swimming, and compete in the NCAA's Division I. The football team are three time Black College Football National Champions, and enjoyed much success in the 1990s. The men's basketball team has earned 16 total conference regular-season and tournament championships, including an eight consecutive titles in the 1980s. In 2013, the program won their first NCAA tournament game after nine previous appearances.[22] The women's basketball program is the first team from a Division I historically black university to win two games in a post-season tournament when the Lady Aggies advanced to the regional semifinals in the 2010 Women's National Invitation Tournament[23]

North Carolina A&T's history can be traced back to 1890 when the United States Congress passed the The Second Morrill Act. Aimed mainly at the confederate states, the second Morrill Act of 1890 required that each state show that race was not an admissions criterion, or else to designate a separate land-grant institution for persons of color.[24] In order to comply with the Second Morrill Act and yet prevent admission of African Americans to the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, now known as North Carolina State University, the college's Board of Trustees were empowered to make temporary arrangements for students of color.[8][25]

On March 9, 1891, the "Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race" was established by an act of the North Carolina General Assembly as an annex of the private Shaw University in Raleigh.[8] The act read in part: "That the leading objective of the college shall be to teach practical agriculture and the mechanic arts and such learning as related thereto, not excluding academic and classical instruction." The college, which started with four teachers and 37 students, initially offered instruction in Agriculture, English, Horticulture, and Mathematics.[8] The college continued to operate in Raleigh until the Board of Trustees voted, in 1892, to relocate the college to Greensboro. With monetary and land donations totaling $11,000 and 14 acres (57,000 m²), the new Greensboro campus was established the following year and the college's first President, John Oliver Crosby, was elected on May 25, 1892.[8]

An early image of students learning to make butter.

The college granted admission to both men and women of color from 1893, until the Board of Trustees voted to restrict admission to males only in 1901. This policy would remain until 1928, when female students were once again allowed to be admitted.[8] In 1899, The college conferred its first degrees to seven graduates.[8] In 1904, the college developed a 100-acre farm equipped with the latest in farm machinery and labor-saving devices. During that time, the university farm provided much of the food for the campus cafeteria.[26] In 1915, the North Carolina General Assembly changed the name of the college to Negro Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina.[8]

The College Building built in 1893, was one of the campus' first buildings. It was destroyed by fire in 1930.

In 1925, Dr. Ferdinand D. Bluford was selected as the third president of the college, and A&T became a member of the Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association (now known as the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association). The next year, the College's National Alumni Association was established. In 1928, the 27-year ban on female students was lifted as the college once again was granted co-educational status. By December 1931, female students are allowed, for the first time, to participate in the student government as members of the student council.[8] In 1939, the college was authorized to grant the Master of Science degree in education and certain other fields. Two years later, the first Master of Science degree was awarded.[8]

An early image of Noble Hall, originally the Agricultural Building, now houses the School of Nursing

The 1940s and 1950s saw the college expand its land holdings. In 1946, the college acquired 96 acres of land adjacent to the original 14-acre campus[8][27] In 1953, The School of Nursing was established, with the first class graduating four years later. 1955 saw more changes, as Dr. Warmoth T. Gibbs was selected as the fourth President of the College. Two years later, the college experienced another name change to the "Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina". In that same year, the college's first white student, Rodney Jaye Miller of Greensboro, was admitted.[8] In 1959, the college was fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).[8]

The role that students of North Carolina A&T have played during the 1960s has been controversial at times. On February 1, 1960, four freshmen men helped spark the civil rights movement in the South. Ezell Blair (Jibreel Khazan), Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond "sat-in" at an all white eating establishment (Woolworth's) and demanded equal service at the lunch counter. The actions of the four freshmen gained momentum as other students of the university joined them in their non-violent protest to desegregate Woolworth's lunch counter, which became known as the Greensboro sit-ins. By the end of July 1960, Blair, McNeil, McCain and Richmond were dubbed the Greensboro Four.[27]

In 1964, John A. Steinhauer, a science teacher, was the first white student to earn a degree from A&T, earning the Master of Science in Education with a concentration in Chemistry.[8] The following year, the College acquired the land of the former Immanuel Lutheran College, a coeducational junior college located adjacent to the college campus.[8][29] In 1967, The college was designated a Regional University by the NC General Assembly. The college was renamed "North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University,"

In 1969, students protesters from the college, in addition to students of nearby James B. Dudley High School, were involved in a four-day conflict with the Greensboro Police and the National Guard in which there was one casualty. The conflict, referred to as the 1969 Greensboro uprising lasted between May 21 through May 25, was sparked by perceived civil rights issues at the segregated high school, when a popular student council write-in presidential candidate was denied his landslide victory allegedly because school officials feared his activism in the Black Power movement.[30][31] Starting on the campus of Dudley High School, the uprising spread to A&T's campus, where students had stood up in support of the Dudley protest. Escalating violence eventually led to an armed confrontation and the subsequent invasion of the campus. Described at the time as "the most massive armed assault ever made against an American university," The uprising ended soon after the National Guard raided and raid of the 505-room male dormitory, W. Kerr Scott Hall, taking hundreds of students into protective custody.[32]

In 1971, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation bringing all 16 public institutions that confer bachelor degrees into the University of North Carolina System.[8] As a result of the consolidation, N.C. A&T became a constituent institution and Lewis Carnegie Dowdy, the College’s sixth president, was reappointed as the college's first chancellor in July of the following year.[33] The 1988 school year saw NC A&T set an enrollment record with 6,200 students. The following year, the college bested its record with a total of 6,500 students.[8]

In 2003, the university announced the creation of a Joint Millennial Campus, with neighboring UNC-Greensboro, with the intent to focus on regional economic development. The following year, the university was classified as a doctoral/research intensive university by the Carnegie Foundation, in addition to forming a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).[8] On May 1, 2006, Lloyd V. Hackley was named Interim Deputy Chancellor of the university. Hackley served in the position until his successor. Stanley F. Battle was installed as the 11th Chancellor on April 25, 2008.[8] Under the Battle administration, the university was awarded an $18 million grant from the National Science Foundation for an Engineering Research Center, the first time an HBCU has been a lead institution for such a center.[8]

On May 22, 2009, Dr. Harold L. Martin, Sr. was elected as the twelfth Chancellor of the University. The following year, N.C. A&T received approval to establish a Ph.D. program in Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) beginning in the fall of 2010.[8] That same year, the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN) opened with 17 students in the doctoral program in nanoscience and 1 student in the professional master's program in nanoscience. According to the National Nanotechnology Initiative, The JSNN became one of fewer than 10 schools nationally to offer degree programs in nanotechnology, and is the only program created and operated collaboratively by two universities.[8] In 2011, North Carolina A&T received approval from the University of North Carolina Board of Governors for its Master of Science in Nanoengineering program, Offered through the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN). In addition to the M.S. degree the university was approved to offer a doctoral program in Nanoengineering.[8]

A north-facing view of the university fountain and formal quad from the Memorial Student Union

North Carolina A&T's main campus, often referred to as "Aggieland," is located approximately nine blocks east of downtown Greensboro, North Carolina, a city that supports a population of 277,080[34] and is one of three principal cities that forms the Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point CSA also referred to as the Piedmont Triad region.

Development of the campus started in 1893 with 14 acres (0.057 km2) of donated land. Today, the main campus encompasses over 200 acres (0.81 km2) in area, and 123 total buildings, which include 28 Academic buildings, 15 Student residences, and various support buildings and athletic facilities. In addition, the physical plant also includes the 600 acres (2.4 km2) working farm, and Two Research Parks totaling a combined 150 acres (0.61 km2).[15][16] The main roads that create the campus boundaries are East Bessemer street, to the north; East Market street, to the south; North O'Henry Boulevard (U.S. Route 220/U.S. 29/U.S. 70), to the east; North Dudley street, to the west; and East Lindsay street to the northeast. The main entry point of the campus is located at the intersection of East Market street and North Benbow road.

James B. Dudley Memorial Building, named for the university's second president, houses the university art galleries.

Located inside the James B. Dudley Memorial Building, the university galleries are home to the Mattye Reed African Heritage and the H. Clinton Taylor Collections. Founded in the late 1960s, the Reed African Heritage Collection is dedicated to the ancestral and contemporary arts of Africa and the Caribbean.[36] The Reed Collection houses around 3,500 artifacts, art, and craft items from more than 35 African and Caribbean nations.[37] The collection is named for Mattye Reed, the site's first curator and director. Reed helped collect a great number of the pieces through soliciting donations from friends and former colleagues on behalf of the university.[37] The Taylor Collection, named for the founder of the university's art department, presents rotating exhibits by both established and upstart African-American Artists, in addition to work created by the university students and faculty.[36]

The University of North Carolina spends roughly $227 million a year on energy.[38] In 2009, the UNC Board of Governors adopted environmental policies reflective of the UNC System's commitment to lead the State of North Carolina to a more sustainable future.[38][39] The goal of the initiative is to reduce energy consumption by 30% at all UNC institutions and affiliates by 2015.[40]

Since 2003, North Carolina A&T has reduced energy use by 21%.[41] According to research conducted by the university, the energy efficiency measures in place inside the 123 buildings on the campus have saved enough energy to meet the power needs of 760 households for a year.[41] In the 2011–12 fiscal year alone, a 32.5 billion BTU reduction in energy helped the university avoid $386,274 in costs.[41] Under the university's Strategic Energy Plan, N.C. A&T has implemented energy efficiency measures such as: comprehensive energy audits to identify improvement needs; development of a retro-commissioning process for existing buildings; energy-efficient lighting retrofits throughout the campus; and the development of green network strategies.[41]

In the area of green building, the university is in the process of developing a green building policy that will require the use of sustainable and green building practices wherever feasible and practical on future construction.[41] As of 2015, there are four green building initiatives being conducted by the university. The Proctor School of Education Building utilizes green roof technology in addition to other sustainable components aimed at reducing storm water runoff and energy demands for air conditioning in the summer months.[41] Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN) Building located at the off-campus Joint Millennial Campus site, was certified as a LEED Gold level building in 2013.[42] In addition to the school of education and Nanotechnology buildings, the university is planning an environmentally-friendly student union and opened its new student health center in 2015. The two-story, 27,548-square-foot building is LEED silver level certified, and the university's first completely green facility.[42][43]

Through these efforts towards sustainability and environment friendly university management, N.C. A&T was ranked 10th, out of 301 institutions from 61 countries, in the 2013 The Universitas Indonesia (UI) GreenMetric World University Sustainability Ranking.[44][45] Additionally, the university ranked 5th among 164 institutions in the category of Campus Setting (Urban) and 9th among 224 institutions in the Comprehensive Higher Education category.[45]

Each of the UNC campuses is headed by a chancellor who is chosen by the Board of Governors on the president's nomination and is responsible to the president. The current Chancellor of NC A&T is Dr. Harold L. Martin Sr.[33] In 2009, Martin became the 12th Chancellor of the university, and first alumnus to serve in the position, following the resignation of his predecessor, Stanley F. Battle.[48]

Prior to his appointment as chancellor, Martin was the senior vice president for academic affairs at The University of North Carolina, General Administration where he led the development and implementation of the University’s academic mission, including teaching, research, international programs and student affairs.[48] Martin currently serves on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges and Schools and on the boards of technology nonprofit MCNC and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation. Previously, he served on advisory committees of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, chaired the board of directors of the Southern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering, and served on the boards of trustees of the NC School of Science and Mathematics, the NC Board of Science and Technology, and the NC Biotechnology Center Advisory Board.[33]

In the UNC System, each university has their own board of trustees. N.C. A&T's Board of Trustees consists of eight members elected by the Board of Governors, four appointed by the governor, and the president of the student body, who serves as an ex officio member.[49] The current Chair of the Board is Patricia Miller Zollar. Zollar is a Managing Director of independent asset management firm Neuberger Berman.[49] Other Trustees include: Willie A. Deese, Executive Vice President and President of the Merck Manufacturing Division, Spence Broadhurst, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer for NewBridge Bank, and Janice Bryant Howroyd, Chairman and CEO of the Act-1 Group.[49]

The 2013–2014 budget totaled $244 million, with $160 million (65.5%) from the state of North Carolina and $34 million coming from contracts and grants.[50] Although the university is mostly state funded, North Carolina A&T's budget for the 2014 fiscal year has dropped by $6.3 million due in part to GovernorPat McCrory submitting a proposal for budget cuts to the General Assembly that recommended reductions to the UNC System.[51] As of 2012, the university endowment was valued at just over $28 million.[52]

As of 2012[update], N.C. A&T has an enrollment of 8,923 Undergraduate, 1,713 Graduate, and 253 Doctoral Students;[57] and according to data released by the University of North Carolina System, the university awarded 1,313 bachelor degrees, 456 master's degrees and 29 doctoral degrees in the 2012–2013 academic year[58]

The university offers 177 Undergraduate, 30 master, and 9 doctoral degrees through its two professional colleges and seven schools at its Greensboro, North Carolina campus.[17][18] The colleges and schools function as autonomous units within the University, and adheres to the University’s mission and philosophy. Bachelor's programs are offered through the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Engineering, the School of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, the School of Business & Economics, the School of Education, the School of Nursing, and the School of Technology.[17]Master's and Doctoral programs are offered through the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, the School of Graduate Studies, the School of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, the School of Business & Economics, the School of Education, the School of Technology and the Joint School of Nanoscience & Nanoengineering.[18]

In 1968, the university reorganized all colleges and schools into the nine academic divisions.[8] This reorganization, and the addition of the School of Business and Economics in 1970; School of Technology in 1987; and the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering in 2010, would eventually realign into the present day Colleges and Schools.[8] All courses are on a credit hour system.

Institutional rankings of North Carolina A&T vary widely, depending on the criteria of the publication. For instance, North Carolina A&T was ranked the #13 college in the United States by the Social Mobility Index college rankings.[62] In the 2014 edition of the Washington Monthly college rankings, NC A&T ranked 49th among national universities. The Washington Monthly assesses the quality of schools based on social mobility (e.g., percentage of Pell Grant recipients who graduate), in which the university ranked 2nd in the nation, academic quality (e.g., percentage of graduates who go on to earn PhDs), and community service.[63]

According to the 2014 issue of U.S. News & World Report's "Historically Black College & Universities (HBCU) List", N.C. A&T was ranked 8th nationally; criteria include tuition & fees, total enrollment, fall acceptance rate, retention, and graduation rates[10] In U.S. News’ Best Grad School edition, the university ranked 75th for industrial, manufacturing and systems engineering and 104th for social work. The university came in at 152nd for best undergraduate engineering programs and 246th for high school counselor ratings also listed in the Best Colleges edition.[64] N.C. A&T was also ranked 106th for online bachelor’s programs, 18th for best online graduate computer information technology programs, and 85th for best online graduate education programs.[65]

Admission to North Carolina A&T is rated as "less selective" by U.S. News & World Report.[67] In 2013, the university received over 6,000 applications and admitted 56.5% of those that applied.[66] The university maintains a Rolling Admissions program. Of those students admitted, SAT scores range 390–480 in Critical Reading, 370–460 in writing, and 410–500 in Math.[69] According to the US News, 85.4 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid, and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $5,023.[67]

Incoming freshmen are eligible to receive either the Lewis and Elizabeth Dowdy or the National Alumni Association Scholarships. The Lewis and Elizabeth Dowdy Scholarship, named after the university's 6th chancellor and his wife, covers the full cost of tuition and is available to students with a 3.75 high school GPA and a minimum 1200 SAT or 26 ACT score.[70] The National Alumni Association Scholarship, provided by the NC A&T National Alumni Association, also covers the full cost of tuition and is available to students with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 100 or 22 ACT score.[70]

As a Land-grant university, N.C. A&T's research focus include the areas of: Aerospace and transportation systems; Biomedical research; Biotechnology and Bioscience; Computer and computational science; Defense and National security; Energy and the environment; Food science; Human health, Nutrition, and Wellness; Nanotechnology and Multi-scale materials; Social and Behavioral sciences; and Transportation and Logistics.[20]

The university operates sixteen research centers and institutes and maintains partnerships with government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, and the National Space Foundation, which in 2008 awarded $18 million in grants for an Engineering Research Center.[21] Nine interdisciplinary research clusters enable scholars to exchange ideas and explore research areas and to work with industry, other research organizations, and the community. NC A&T research clusters include Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Biotechnology & Biosciences, Computational Science and Engineering, Energy and Environment, Information Systems and Technology, Leadership and Community Development, Logistics and Transportation Systems, Public Health, & Social and Behavioral Sciences.[21]

North Carolina A&T has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,923, with a gender distribution of 45.6 percent male students and 54.4 percent female students, with 80% of students being North Carolina residents, 4% being international students and the remainder coming from other areas of the US.[57][57][74] As a Historically Black University, the racial make up of the student body is 88.11% African American and 13% non-African-African. Under the university's strategic plan dubbed "Preeminence 2020," the university plans to increase the non-African-American student population to 30% by the year 2020.[73][75][76]

Roughly 35% of students live in university owned, operated, or affiliated residence halls, apartments and residential communities.[77] Over 4,000 students live in N.C. A&T's 15 residence halls and upperclassman and graduate apartment building.[78] The majority of residence halls on campus are coeducational. Of the remaining residence halls, 20% are female only and 10% are single sex male residence halls.[77] Students can also apply to live in living-learning communities, which consists of specially-themed residential areas with specially designed academic and social activities for its residents such as The Honors and International Programs Community; Teaching Fellows Program; and communities which focus on creating unique living experiences.[79] Each residence hall has its own hall government, with representatives in the Residence Hall Association. Despite the availability on-campus housing, the residence halls are complemented by a variety of housing options. 65% of students live off-campus,[77] mostly in the areas closest to campus, in either apartment communities or former single-family homes. The university residence halls offer a variety of living options, from double occupancy traditional to single occupancy suite and apartment living. The area known as North Campus provides Traditional, Suite, and Apartment style living options for students residing on campus. North campus residence halls include: Cooper Hall, Alex Haley Hall, and The Aggie Village.[80] The Aggie Village, commonly referred to as simply "The Village," are the newest residence halls built on campus. Completed in 2005, the centrally located six building complex contains four three-story residential buildings, two administrative buildings with offices and classroom space.[81] The four residential units within the complex are named for Ezell Blair, Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond; collectively known as the A&T Four and replaced the former W. Kerr Scott Hall which was ceremoniously demolished on July 11, 2004.[81][82] South campus provides all Traditional style residence halls. South campus residence halls include: Barbee, Curtis, Holland, Morrison, Morrow, and Vanstory Halls. Barbee Hall, built in 1980, is the tallest building on campus, besides Aggie Stadium. The six story residence hall is named for Zoe Parks Barbee, one of the first African American commissioners of Guilford County, houses 388 students.[83] East campus provides Suite, and Apartment style living to students. The residence halls on East Campus are: Pride Hall, The Aggie Suites, and Aggie Terrace. Both the Aggie Suites and Pride hall were financed through the North Carolina A&T University Foundation and were completed in 2001 and 2005 respectively.[84][85]

The North Carolina A&T State University Student Government Association, commonly referred to as simply the SGA, is the undergraduate student government of N.C. A&T. The present SGA is an outgrowth of the Student Council of N.C. A&T, which was restructured in 1935 from an earlier organization by the same name.[86] The mission of the SGA is to Create an atmosphere of freedom that allows students to move beyond the limits of traditional interests by being a creative and contributing individual; Aid in a meaningful interpretation of the concept of the university community; Provide opportunities for each student to participate in activities that develop and realize potentialities; and Create awareness of national and international affairs and of their significance for the individual.[86]

Student organizations are registered through the Office of Student Activities, which currently has a registry of over 120 student organizations that covers a variety of organizations including national honor and drama societies; departmental, social and hometown clubs; performance groups; student military; fraternities and sororities; residence councils; the Student Union Advisory Board; and classes.[87]

The Council of Presidents serves as the governing body of registered and recognized student-run organizations at North Carolina A&T. The council is a participatory body composed of the student organization presidents designed to serve as a liaison which assists, governs, and advocates for the registered and recognized student organizations on the campus of N.C.A&T and their respective memberships.[88]

The A&T Register and "The Voice" WNAA 90.1 FM are the official media outlets of the university. Students of the university contribute to both "The Register" and the campus radio station. The Register was first published in 1894. Currently, the student newspaper is published every Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters.[92] The A&T Register has won numerous awards over its history, and is recognized locally, statewide, and nationally as one of the premier HBCU publications. In 2013, The Register was awarded first place in newswriting and second place in Opinion writing by the North Carolina College Media Association.[93] The Register also earned awards from the 2914 National HBCU Student News Media Conference. The paper was awarded second in the "Best News Coverage" and "Best Student, Non-regular production, Newspaper" categories; and third in the "best design tabloid or broadsheet" category.[93]

Started in 1966 as WANT 620 AM, The campus radio station started with the donation of a refurbished radio console from local radio station WEAL.[94] Because The FCC mandated that college radio stations could not compete with commercial radio, WANT was transmitted out of Price Hall on closed circuit A.M. radio transmitted to strategic buildings on campus via cable.[94] The first day's broadcast carried, in part, remarks from the campus Board of Trustees and then president Lewis C. Dowdy.[94] WANT continued operation until 1979, when the campus station switched to an F.M. format, and became WNAA 90.1 FM.[95] In 1982 the station transitioned from the conventional 18-hour college radio format to a full 24-hour broadcast format, and in 1984 installed a new tower to increase wattage from 10 to its current 10,000 watts of power, being able to broadcast as far as 45 miles (72 km).[95][96] Today, WNAA is broadcast both over the air and on-line, serving the Greensboro, High PointWinston-Salem metropolitan radio market.[97]

Through the Journalism and Mass Communication department, students manage "The JOMC Journal," a student generated multimedia news platform, a state-of-the-art High Definition Television studio, and The Aggie Media Group, a public relations agency that provides services including: Media Relations, Quantitative and Qualitative research; social media, community, publicity campaigns and event planning.[97]

The Greek System at North Carolina A&T dates back to the 1910s, and is home to 18 recognized organizations including eight of the nine of the historically African-American National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Fraternities and Sororities, national service, honorary, and professional organizations. Currently, roughly 1.4% of undergraduate male students are members of a Fraternity, while roughly 1.2% of undergraduate female students are members of a Sorority.[98]

Annual events on the campus celebrate North Carolina A&T traditions, alumni, sports, and culture. In early March, the university celebrates Founders' Day, which observes the anniversary of the founding of the university.

Homecoming, which usually occurs in the month of October, coincides with a home football game, and festivities such as tailgating, class and departmental events, nightlife and social functions, musical and comedy concerts, pep rallies, student showcases, fraternity & sorority step shows, a parade, and the coronation of Mister and Miss North Carolina A&T, the university's Homecoming King and Queen. Dubbed the "Greatest Homecoming on Earth" by students and alumni, the week-long celebration brings in an influx of 20,000 to 40,000 alumni and guests to the city. In a 2011 study conducted by the Greensboro Convention and Visitors Bureau, the economic impact from homecoming was measured at $11.3 million.[101]

The school's athletic teams are known as the Aggies, and represented by a BulldogMascot. The term "Aggie" has long been used to refer to students who attend agricultural schools. Hence the reason the university adopted the nickname at the time of the school's founding.[108]

As of 2013, the Aggies have earned 46 MEAC and CIAA regular-season and tournament titles.[109][110][111][112][113] The men's basketball team has earned 16 total conference regular-season and tournament championships, including an eight consecutive titles in the 1980s. In 2013, the Aggies made history when the team won their first Division I post-season game defeating the Liberty Flames in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.[22] The women's basketball program has had success in their own right. The Lady Aggies have claimed six MEAC regular season and two MEAC tournament championships. Their most notable accomplishments include advancing to the regional semifinals in the 2010 Women's National Invitation Tournament, making them the first Division I HBCU program to win two games in a Division I post-season tournament.[23]

Besides basketball, N.C. A&T has been nationally successful in both football and track and field. The Aggie football team has claimed six MEAC and five CIAA conference championship. The Aggies have also won three Black college football national championships.[109] The Aggie men's and women's track and field program has produced 65 individual MEAC champions, and five All-Americans; four MEAC Outdoor championships, One MEAC Indoor championship, and in 2005, placed fifth in the 4x100 meter relay in the NCAA Division I national championship.[114]

Leaders in business have also passed through the University's halls, such as Janice Bryant Howroyd, founder and CEO of the ACT-1 Group, the nation's largest minority woman-owned employment agency,[124] and Joe Dudley founder, president and CEO of Dudley Products Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of hair and skin care products for the African American community.[125]

Gibbs, Warmoth T. (1966). History of The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Book Company.

Spruill, Albert W. (1964). Great Recollections from Aggieland: A Human Interest Account of the Development of the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina from 1893-1960. Whitehead Printing Company.

Spruill, Albert W. (1982). The Historic Tour of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.